When we studied the body I broke the body down into 8 units and included a review project. This allowed for one month per unit and a month for review. This works very well with a 9 month school year. The units we studied were the nervous system, the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the skeletal system, we did the urinary and digestive system together, the muscular system, the reproductive system, and the cell. We took advantage of opportunities in our community that also were teaching about the body. We were able to do two dissections and see several cadavers through two bodies reveled exhibits. I would check out books on body system as well as videos from the library. We enjoyed watching YouTube videos on the systems too. We would try to do a hands on activity for each unit as well as draw the major organs and components of each system. We did all of this without a curriculum just the resources listed above. We had a lot of fun learning this way and learned a lot too.
Unit One - September- The nervous system -
We focused our unit on the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. We also looked at the eyes and the ears. We would trace ourselves and draw these 3 pieces on the life sized paper. We made the brain with salt dough. We also made and learned the parts of a nerve. The Sea Life aquarium had a homeschool day that offered a dissection of a fish. It fit very well with our study of the body.
drawing the 3 parts to the central nervous system
we made the brain with salt dough
learning about nerves
learning about the eye
Learning about the eye
library resources
Sea Life dissection
Unit 2- October- The circulatory system
We started off with drawing the main parts of the system on our life sized paper. Next we learned about what makes up our blood. Then we made our own blood which was a super fun project. We then talked about how oxygen moves through the systems. We used donuts and liquorish to show how this works. Then we learned about the four chambers of the heart. We used gram crackers to show the 4 chambers of the heart. We also enjoyed watching YouTube videos and library resources too.
drawing the main parts of the circulatory system
make our own blood project
making blood
Lungs to heart to the rest of the body
4 chambers of the heart.
Unit 3 - November The Respiratory system -
Our major project was to make lungs out of candy. This was a lot of fun after learning the parts of the lungs. The kids also did a cow eye dissection this month at the air zoo's homeschool days. This was really cool. Our science museum also had the bodies reveled exhibit which was amazing. We couldn't take pictures inside the exhibit but there were over 10 cadavers and other body systems on display. It was very educational.
Lungs project
Air Zoo cow eye dissection
Cadavers and other body systems on display
body system game
Unit 4- December - The Skeletal system
Our activity was that we built a skeleton out of toilet paper rolls. I also tested the kids on the bones. We also talked about how bones move.
I quizzed the kids on the bones
toilet paper skeleton
Unit 5 -January- The urinary and digestive system
In order to get all the systems in and have a review month I decided to put these two systems in the same month. This worked really well as there is not too much with the urinary system. We enjoyed making our own kidneys and reading lots of books about how pop is made. Caiden joined a science cohort this month. It's put on by the Van Andel research institute. They are studying bio medical science. So there is a little cross over with what we are learning at home.
We made our own kidneys
Caiden at his bio medical cohort
Unit 6- February -The muscular system
We would talk about where the muscles are then I would quiz the kids. We also talked about the parts that make up a muscle. I just got the worksheet from google images. We spent 2 weeks in California this month and they also had a bodies reveled exhibit. You were allowed to take pictures at there display.
Muscles
Bodies Reveled
bodies reveled
bodies reveled
Unit 7- March- Reproductive system
The two older kids were very uncomfortable with all of this information. We learned all the correct anatomical terms and talked about reproduction and puberty. We didn't do alot of creative work on this unit just learned terms and functions.
Unit 8- April - DNA and the Cell
This was a really fun unit. We talked about the parts of a cell then made our own eddible cells. After that we learned about DNA and then made our own DNA. The kids really enjoyed this unit. When we were in California we worked with DNA in one of the science labs.
DNA
DNA project
DNA projects
Working with DNA in California
Edible Cell project
Edible cell project
Unit 9- May -Review of the systems
I love having a review project at the end of a year. The kids made lap books that reviewed the body systems. It also allows some flexibility incase you get behind in any of your units. The kids did a great job remembering the major points that we learned. Resources from the library and online information can help you teach just about anything. You don't need fancy or expensive curriculum to teach your children. You just need time and love.
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